chevron-down Created with Sketch Beta.
ABA Section of Dispute Resolution

Fellowship Program

Gain experience and network with experts in the dispute resolution field.

Gain experience and network with experts in the dispute resolution field.

About the Program

The ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Fellowship Program seeks candidates with a demonstrable interest in the dispute resolution field, and a commitment to taking increasing leadership roles and responsibilities within the Section. The program is designed to provide Fellows with opportunities to gain experience with the Section and help them advance their careers in the dispute resolution field.

Fellows work with a Section committee of their interest for one term with the option to continue into a second term. There is a maximum term limit of two terms. Fellows are expected to remain active with the Section long-term and be the next generation of Section leadership.

You can learn more about the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution and its mission here.

The Fellows term will be from January 1 to August 31 each year. Fellows are asked to commit to at least four hours per month to the program.

Each year, the Fellowship application will contain a list of committees who are seeking a Fellow and a description of what project(s) they would like their Fellow to complete. Fellows indicate in their application their first, second, and third choice committees to be assigned to.

Benefits of Being a Fellow

  • Coaching and guidance from the co-chairs of a substantive committee related to a dispute resolution subtopic of your interest.
  • Access to network with Section leadership, some of the world's top dispute resolution thought leaders, practitioners, and educators.
  • Meaningful professional opportunities around speaking and publishing.
  • Complimentary registration to the Section’s Spring Conference, the largest dispute resolution conference in the world. The 2024 Spring Conference will be April 10-13 in San Diego, CA.

Requirements of Fellows

  • Be a member of or join the ABA and the Section of Dispute Resolution.
  • Be an active member of assigned Section committee and participate in all committee meetings.
  • Be actively involved in at least one substantive project of assigned committee.
  • Participate in the program orientation and three check-in calls.
  • Commit to continue active involvement in the Section after Fellowship by mentoring new members / Fellows, staying involved in Section committees, and assuming leadership positions within the Section.

Who Should Apply

  • Law students and recent graduates with an interest in a dispute resolution career path.
  • Professionals with ADR-related and/or legal experience. There is no upper limit on experience.
  • Experienced practitioners looking to transition to a career in dispute resolution.
  • Current Fellows who wish to continue in their second term.

2024 Class

Sharndeep Bains
Caterina Cesario
Alec Chapa
Joi Chatman
H. Vincent Draa
Zhongliang Gai
John (Jack) Gannon
Kimberly Malesky
Talia Martinez
Ally Pruitt
Lynnore K. Seaton
Mari Sun
Florencia Wajnman

2023 Class

Sareh Aghamir
Mohamad Radwan Al Omar
James Arrington
Sharndeep K. Bains
Rookmin Cecilia Beepat
Teagan Boda
Zaklin Butinar
Liliana Cervantes
Alec Chapa
Joi Chatman
Stanislav Cherkezov
Horace Vincent Draa
Joel Evans
Kareem Sule Fuseini
Zhongliang Gai
María Gomez
Kristi Harrington
Felicia Harris Hoss
Viktoria Karamane
Tatevik Kechiyants
Kimberly Malesky
Debbie Martinez
José Augusto Martins
Lawrence J. McNamara
Brandon Miller
Mnotho Ngcobo
Paula Plaza
Tanvi Praveen
Jessica Rado
Carey Rosser
Lisa Simpson Hoover
Marcus Stergio
Laurel Stevenson
Da Hyung Sun
Shakhzoda Tuychieva
Dr. Chinwe Stella Umegbolu
Ersoy Zirhlioglu

2022 Class

Sylvia Grace Acosta
James Arrington
Sasha Blaine
Pavlo Bogachenko
Maren Calvert
Jason Carter
Hannah Cranbury
Ashley Davis
Louis Ryan Garcia
Diego Rodrigo Santos Garmilla
Alex Green
Kristi Harrington
Velislava Hristova
Viktoria Karamane
Adil Khoso
David Lewis
Robert Lusk
Debbie Martinez
Patricia McGruder
Joseph McMullen
Brandon Miller
Linelle Mogado
Moshiuzzaman
Thomas O'Keefe
Radwan Omar-Muhammad
Tina Patterson
Eileen Petzold-Bradley
Jessica Rado
Juliana Rigato-Piekarski
Hikari Saito
Tricia Schafer
Marlon Schulman
Gustavo Vieira da Silva
Michael Tomko
Tim Warner
Megan Willoughby
Usher Winslett
Vershawn Ashanti Young
Ersoy Zirhlioglu